Love Manga

It’s Yaoicon this weekend and already the first reports are slowly trickling in.

Over at Mangacast Ed runs with a pre-con podcast which is well worth a quick listen just to get a taste of all the various panels that are happening over the next 3 days.

Friday night saw the launch party of 801 Media, but not a huge amount of details have so far been forthcoming. You know, those all important questions like Who are they?! ^.^
Anyway, both Jen at YaoiSuki and Ed pick up on their first title announcement with the possibility of another potential title;

	801 Media
Affair by Kano Shiuko	Bondz by Toko Kawai	Ichigenme by Yoshinaga Fumi
Tonari no Heya no Paranoia by Minami Haruka	Sky Over My Spectacles by Tennouji Mio	Love Is Like A Hurricane by Shimazaki Tokiya

The other potential new title is probably going to be coming through from Kawai Touko.

The next update was from the DramaQueen panel where we were treated to three new licenses which appear so far to be vastly more hardcore then anything which has come out from 801 Media at the moment. ^.~ (Missing Road is probably my pick of title out of that lot, even though I remember Angel and Devil as rather funny story wise with some ridiculous threesome and I’m reliably informed that Cage of Thorns is very smutty, so that’ll be two copies then!)
As yet no news on how RUSH wad perceived so I guess we’ll have to wait on Ed for that one. Anyway here are the cover images (the DQ ones!) for their new licenses.

	DramaQueen
Cage of Thorns by Sakuragawa Sonoko	Angel and Devil by Uzuki Jun	Missing Road by Sakurai Shushushu

Next up was BeBeautiful, or rather at the same time as DramaQueen, who also announced three licenses. Now to be perfectly honest I’d still be fairly sceptical about this until I actually see them on the shelves, because their track record just isn’t that great for me regardless of their assurances otherwise. Then again these titles are all one-shots so the risk isn’t really that great on us the readers if were tempted to buy them. Much as I hate to see a publisher disappear I hope this at least means a reversal of fortunes for BB, then again these were all annouced at NYCC so really who cares. ^.~

The final panel so far was Blu Manga who in the same vein as everyone else also announced three titles. June Pride is of particular interest consider it is book 6 in a series, as yet I’ve no details on whether they plan to release anymore of the other titles.

	Blu Manga
Innocent Bird by Saragi Hirotakaki	June Pride by Gotou Shinobu	Bokura no Onsel by Matsumoto Temari

And now even more updates from the June Manga panel. ^.~

	June Manga
Love Recipe by Higashizato Kiriko	In The Walnut by Kawai Toko	Picnic by Yamada Yugi
Othello by Hasumi Toui	Sweet Whisper by Furiyama Hyouta	Worlds End by Eiki Eiki
Ordinary Crush by Fujiyama Hyouta	Can’t Win With You by Honami Yukino	Nakimushi na Little by Kinoshita Keiko
	Lovers In 1K Apartment by Fujiyama Hyouta

As more information comes through I’ll add to this post.

Well that’s an entirely interesting change of plans by Yaoicon for this weekend.

Mangacast put up its Con Alert! details for yaoi-con a few days back with all the schedule times of the panels but it seems that one of them has changed already.

DQ which was rather bizarrely stuck in a graveyard area on midday Sunday, especially considering the clout of them as a yaoi publisher has now been moved to the more entertaining placed midday slot on Saturday. Even more interestingly it is in direct competition with the BeBeautiful Panel which gets held at the same time.

I use direct comparison in the most loosest of terms considering the raving glut of titles that BeBeautiful have been releasing recently, of course that is one of the points of a panel, but as many people have said we’ve been here before with BB and excuse me for having a little scepticism.

Anyway courtesy of the now new improved time and position, DQ are looking at spilling the beans on several new titles which should be a lot of fun. But the real juicy part is the DramaQueen Talks RUSH by
Promotional Director Laila and Rush artist Lara Yokoshima which I’m really looking forward to hear about (yes I’m looking at you Ed and Jen). Talking of RUSH though it is now up and available at the DQ Shop

Sorry for the lack of updates this week, its kinda busy at the moment but I shall be back in a few days.

Anyway that’s not going to stop me picking up on this topic which was emailed to me recently, because well it is something that I had hoped that would happen here.

Remember back in July I wrote a post on Del Rey’s edit of volume 02 of Air Gear. Okay, so it wasn’t a major thing really but still it was a cover edit outside the original Japanese release. I wrote back then that I was wondering if it wasn’t time we could allow a little thong through on a cover, it is hardly more sexually explicit then any other type of material you could see just walking down a busy high street. But many people did make pertinent arguments about the fact that a title like this would get shelved amongst many other “safer” titles and really in the end it is just one change to an otherwise good manga so should we just lump it anyway?

Well Tanoshimi (the UK version of Del Rey) it seems has decided that it doesn’t have the same social concerns that the US market faces and is planning their release of volume 02 in all its thongy goodness.

From Justine Taylor;

I know that there was some talk about the Del Rey putting stockings on the girl on their edition on your website a few months ago. I’m pleased to say that Tanoshimi has decided to go with the original Japanese artwork. We take the view that we’re a different market to the US, and - although I can’t say that we would never amend artwork - we’ll try to go with the original if we think it’s appropriate, although changing the inside material is always going to be tricky as it comes from Del Rey.

I was fairly staggered by this. I had secretly really hoped that something like this would happen. As I wrote back in July, the UK doesn’t always have the same concerns about material like this and we are exposed to it more frequently through magazine covers and advertising that it seems rather futile to suddenly become shy when it is a manga cover, but I was still a little sceptical considering Tanoshimi, much like Del Rey, is also part of Random House. Thankfully it looks like my fears were unfounded, and if anyone was looking for a reason to support the UK releases then this is it.

This is the real reason why I am so keen to see a UK manga scene take off over here (outside of price too!). Whilst even here in the UK we could not get away with some of the works that Japan releases, there is a certain proclivity towards the material which allows a greater flexibility and understanding; the Air Gear cover is a perfect example of this in action. Could we get to see future titles here in the UK which aren’t edited compared to their US counterparts? I don’t think its unrealistic to suggest so.

Of course, I am curious now. Will Tanoshimi shift more copies of volume 02 then Del Rey? The insides are pretty much identical so it is just the cover image you are buying. Will Tanoshimi see a large export of volume 02’s to the US?
Wouldn’t that be a reversal of the usual trend. ^.~
Can’t say I’m entirely upset with that idea either.

As usual from the Comiclist.

A. D. VISION
Cromartie High School Manga Vol 8 TPB, $10.95

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Beowulf #2 (Of 3), $2.99
Brian Denhams Bit Torment #1, $3.95
Gold Digger Annual 2006, $4.50
Gold Digger Halloween Special 2006, $2.99
Gold Digger Super Poster Mania #1, $4.99
Gold Digger Super Poster Mania Sgn Ed #1, $9.95
Ninja High School #143, $2.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
Magnus Robot Fighter Vol 3 4000 AD HC (resolicited), $49.95
Ohikkoshi TPB, $12.95

DC COMICS
Tenjho Tenge Vol 10, $9.99

DEL REY
Ghost Hunt Vol 5 GN, $10.95
Kagetora Vol 3 GN, $10.95
Kurogane Vol 2 GN, $10.95
Pastel Vol 4 GN, $10.95
Q-Ko-Chan Vol 2 Earth Invader Girl GN, $10.95
Wallflower Vol 9 GN, $10.95

FANFARE / PONENT MON
Walking Man GN (AA), $16.99

ICE KUNION
Angel Diary Vol 4, $10.95

TOHAN CORPORATION
Biohazard Ad Arts Collection, $41.99
Dcss Complete Visual Book, $39.99
Final Fantasy XII Official Guide Book, $24.99
Goth Loli Vol 7, $18.99
Gundam Profile Gp01, $35.99
He Is My Master Marumie Maid Works, $59.99
Hobby Japan Oct 2006, $12.99
Hyper Hobby Sept 2006 #0, $16.99
Kow Yokoyama Mak Sketchbook, $75.99
Megami Sept 2006, $14.99
Mobil Suits Gundam Character Encyclopedia, $65.99
Modeloid Vol 3, $24.99
Nanakusa No Ballad Ballad For Innocence, $63.99
Neon Genesis Evangelion Iron Maiden Special Edition Visual F, $39.99
Newtype Sept 2006 #104, $10.99
Petit Mania Petite Blythe Collections 1, $37.99
Replicant Vol 24, $23.99
Sf Illustrator Naoyuki Kato Bijo Mecha Powered Suit, $51.99
Shuffle Anime Complete Album, $43.99

VIZ MEDIA LLC
Cain Saga Vol 1 TPB, $8.99
Drifting Classroom Vol 2 TPB, $9.99
Flame Of Recca Vol 20 TPB, $9.99
Golgo 13 Vol 5 GN, $9.99
Hana Kimi Vol 14 GN, $9.99
Inu Yasha Ani Manga Vol 17 GN, $11.99
Inu Yasha Vol 27 TPB, $8.95
Naoki Urasawas Monster Vol 5 TPB, $9.99
Pokemon Lets Find Pokemon Special Complete Ed, $14.99
Rurouni Kenshin Novel, $9.99
Vagabond Vol 23 TPB, $9.95

Thanks to everyone who entered the Love Manga Manhwa Competition, and just to finish it off here is the winner for DQ’s DVD.

Celeste Monroe with;

Having sampled a few manhwa titles at my local public library recently, I have to say I find manhwa to be a bit more fun and stylish compared to its Japanese counterpart. I myself haven’t quite taken the initiative to add any manhwa titles to my book collection, but I would love to start with DVD. Judging from the book introduction alone, I liked what I read, and the book preview has left me wanting more. I’d also like to add that the artwork for the book cover is freakin’ awesome! (Kinda reminds me of The Rocky Horror Picture Show). Aside from the character Ddam’s hallucinations and the wanting to off herself, I’ve also experienced a somewhat lackluster year so far and could use a nice little diversion … in the form of a new, interesting, strange, and very stylish manhwa book. Thanks!

Thanks again to everyone who made it such a fun competition week. ^.^

This is it, the final day of the Love Manga Manhwa Competition. Thanks to everyone who entered in to yesterdays chance to win Ice Kunions Bring It On, in fact there were so many good entries that I just could not decide who to pick so we have 2 winners today.

ChunHyang72:

I dutifully clicked on the preview for Volume 1 of “Bring It On!” and felt my heart sink: the author’s description of the story sounded like pure shojo formula. (Tomboy falls for popular, unattainable bishonen. Angst and hijinks ensue.) But this all-too-familiar set-up actually yields a fresh and funny read. Miha and Seung-suh’s battle o’ the sexes plays like a giddy mash-up of “Woman of the Year,” “The Matrix,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Never Been Kissed,” and “Hana-Kimi.” The heroine’s butt-kicking abilities teeter on the edge of plausibility, but her attempts to camoflague her vulnerability with fisticuffs… well, as a lifelong tomboy, that detail felt just right. I’d love to see what develops from their (verbal) sparring.

sleepykitten13:

I’ve heard of the title a few times before, but I never knew what it was about.
I’m really glad I took a look at the previews; they had me laughing the whole time. The style is great, sometimes a style can distract you, but reading this was pretty smooth for me. I love Mi-ha! Her character is pretty outrageous, but that’s what makes even the simplest story a great one to read. I haven’t been able to figure Seung-Suh out though, if he is supposedly this tough, trouble-making gang member (will any more info be given about his past I wonder ), then why is he kind of nice to Mi-ha, aside from using her as a servant that is… I’m halfway expecting their relationship to take a turn towards romance, but who knows…
The part about the grandmother in book two was hilarious… although sad at the same time, because she reminds me of my own grandmother. She was the type to tell you to keep your elbows off the table while eating, but now is rather senile and does things like mixing up who people are…
That was kind of long…I have nothing witty to say, but the previews were fun to read and I’m interested to know more about these characters.. Plus I’m poor and would like some free manga to read too! *wink wink*

Well done to you both. (Yes, okay I suck at picking winners!)

Anyway, as it is the final day of this little competition I’d thought I’d save my favourite title to the end. In fact this is not just my favourite manhwa title of the moment it is well up there to be my favourite title of this year, but we’ll see how that pans out in the end of year Best Of post.

Publisher: DramaQueen Writer: Kye Young Chon Artist: Kye Young Chon Paperback: 180 pages ISBN: 1-933809-35-3 Age: 16+ RRP: $11.99 ($10.19 from the DQ Shop) Buy from the DQ Shop Reviews:

Yes the final title up for grabs is DramaQueen’s DVD by Kye Young Chon.

With only the first volume out it is unusual for me to be so hooked on a series. I try and least wait for a couple of volumes before making an opinion but with DVD I was hooked pretty much from the get go. Again I won’t go into the story details, but here is the summary from the DQ site, along with preview.

Ddam Shim is not having a good year. She failed to enter the specialized university for prosecutors, so she’s studying to re-take the exam, and living in a dorm room that’s no bigger than a bathroom. Of course bad things always come in three’s — the final straw that broke Ddam’s back was getting dumped by her boyfriend on their date.

His reason for the breakup? Well… aside from her not getting into university, he’s not too happy about her hallucinations. Sure — Ddam sees grape vines growing from ceilings and flowers drifting about in the air, but so what? Who doesn’t? It’s only natural if you’ve got an active imagination….

Alas, the breakup pushes Ddam over the edge, and she decides to kill herself. But—! Not before she makes the last day of her life count! So she dresses up, calls the number on her padded bra, heads out to the club to meet up with the guys from the number — and at the end of the evening, she’s wondering how she ended up… as their roommate…?

Welcome to DVD – the world of Ddam (spunky future prosecutor), Venu (the face that is the envy of all males), and DD (a punk rocker DJ): a story about a girl, two guys, and their motto of “living life miserably!”

I talked about Audition earlier this week which is the other Kye Young Chon title that DQ are currently releasing (Unplugged Boy is out in 2007), and as much as I love it, it cannot compare to DVD.

This title is everything that I love about Manhwa, the artwork is gorgeous with both DD and Venu looking just so beautiful and then adding Ddam to the mix makes this an extremely good looking read.
But even the pretty artwork fades into the background when compared to the story and the characters. Both are irreverent, funny and just downright strange that I could not help but love them instantly.

The situations they get into, the way they handle them and just the most simplest of conversations are all just so bizarre its so hard not to like it. This is just the type of title that I could re-read again and still enjoy it just as much as the first time.

Quite simply I love DVD, it is just great.

The rules are simple. If you’d like to pick up the first volume of DVD from DramaQueen then just drop me an email letting me know why you’d like to read it yourself.

It does not matter if you have entered the competition and won either.

The email and contact details are available from the top left contact page, or use lovemanga @ lovemanga . co . uk

I’ll announce the winner tomorrow. ^.^

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DRAMAQUEEN ACQUIRES TWO NEW TITLES.

Houston, Texas, 12th October 2006. Last week, DramaQueen announced two new titles at MangaNext in New Jersey.

During the panels at MangaNext, DramaQueen gave the audience a sneak preview of two new titles that DramaQueen acquired. Starting with the yaoi/BL title:

- Aijin Ichimanyen by Dr. Ten

This titles promises to give the readers a whole new perspective on the term “hardcore Yaoi.” For the readers who have been fans of Dr. Ten, don’t miss out on her first English debut!

Next up is the “poor-little rich boy” manhwa romantic comedy:

- 8 MM by You Na

Sun-Hyuk Cho inherited a fortune from his grandfather. Unfortunately, he learns that there’s one condition: he must finish college! Using an 8mm camcorder, Sun chronicles his life as a “poor” boy. Entering his viewfinder is a girl who claims she’s his live-in?!

Our DQ team has an incentive to bring out these great titles… to put it simply―we want to read them too!! As always, we thank you for all your support and enthusiasm.

Thank you for your support and check back with us soon.

Until next time….

ABOUT US: DramaQueen, L.L.C. is a publisher founded by manga fans from both The United States and Europe. DramaQueen aims to release the best quality manga and manhwa to the American and European market. Our titles are for the mature and discerning readers who enjoy indulging in life’s little pleasures. For more information on our current and upcoming releases are available at the DramaQueen website (http://www.onedramaqueen.com).